Breech mechanism for quick-firing guns.



No. 627,9!3. Patented June 27, I899.

- F. F. FLETCHER.

BREECH MECHANISM FOR QUICK FIRING GUNS.

5 SheetsSheet l.

No. 627,98. Patehted June 27, I899. F. F. FLETCHER.

BBEEGH MECHANISM FOR QUICK FIRING GUNS. I

(Applicationfiled Apr. 7, 1898.) I (No Model.) 5 Sheets-$heet 2.

mum

No. 627,9!3. I Patnted 'lune 27, 1891 r. F. FLETCHER.

BREED MECHANISM FOR QUICK FIRING GUNS.

(Application filed Apr. 7, 1898.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

atented June 27, I899.

P F. F. FLETCHER. BREEGH MECHANISH FOR QUICK FIRING GUNS.

(Application filed Apr. '7, 189B.)

5 eeeeeeeeeeee 4.

(No M oooo I 2 mum I 1 =1 Ms Q 1w t TIE-.21. film I in i I mm;

No. 627,9!3. Patented June 27, I899;

' F. F. FLETCHER.

BBEECH MEGHANISM FOR QUICK FIRING GUNS.

(Applicgt ion filed Apt. 7, 189B.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

to open the plug.

fira'rns NHE H PATENT "m rtin.

BREECH MECHANISM FOR QUICK-FIRING GUNS;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,913, dated J une27,1899.

' Application filed April 7, 1898. $erial No.- 676,814. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK F. FLETCHER, lieutenant in the United StatesNavy, and a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in theDistrict of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Breech Mechanism for Quick-Firing Guns; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in breech mechanism forquick-firing guns of the slotted-screw system of fermeture, andparticularly relates to the manner of operating the screw-plug, to meansfor firing the gun, and to provision for facilitating the operation ofloading the gun.

The invention includes the application of mechanism whereby thecontinuous rotation of a crank removes the screw-plug from the gun,operates the firing device, so as to eject the primer, and throws intoposition a protecting-tray to preserve the screw-th reads of the gunfrom injuryin loading the gun. The rotation of the crank in the oppositedirection serves to remove the protecting-tray from the gun, to lock theplug in the gun, and to bring the firing deviceinto operation. \Vhilethese three results are simultaneously accomplished in theherein-described mechanism, it is my purpose to use the same conjointlyor severally as occasion may require.

Nearly all of the so-called rapid-firing guns have the breech-plugoperated by means of a lever across the rear face of the breech of thegun. With this arrangement itis necessary for the man who operates thelever to step from his position in rear of or to one side of the gun inorder to reach the lever-handle This is a manifest disadvantage and anunnecessary waste of time for the operator to move from one point toanother before the gun can be fired and afterit has been fired before itcan be reloaded. is even-a greater disadvantage to require the operatorto expose himself in rear of the gun in the operation of closingthelever. In this case a gun-pointer cannot fire the gun until he isassured that the breech-operator is free from the recoil of the gun,thus causing de lay in firing the gun or else exposing thebreech-operator to the risk of being struck by the gun on recoil. In myinvention lovercome this disadvantage by providing the breech-openingmechanism that willbe hereinafter described and claimed.

Referenceis had to the accompanying draw ings, in which the same partsare indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the gun, showing the breech locked andthe gun ready for firing and the protecting-tray in the loweredposition. Fig. 2 represents a section along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 andlooking down, the obturator being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of the breech of the gun as seen from the right of Fig. 1.Fig. 4 represents a section through the gun-body along the line 4 4 ofFig. 1, showing the protectingtray in the raised position ready toreceive the shell, but with the breech-block swung clear of the gun.Fig. 5 represents a rear view of the gun-body with the carrier-ring,tray, and breech-block detached from the gun. Fig. 6 is an elevation,partly in section, of the carrier-ring and illustrates the means foralternately lockin g the breech-block in the carrier or the carrier inthe gun, as the case may be. Fig. '7 is a side elevation of thebreechblock as detached from the carrier-ring. Fig. 8 represents asection through the carrier-ring along the line 8 8 of Fig. 6 andlooking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 9 represents the hinge boltor shaft on which the carrier-ring is pivoted and shows the gear-wheelsfor turning the block in the carrier and for swinging the carrier openand also for operating the protecting-tray. Fig. 10 represents aninverted plan view of the segmental worm-gear for operating the hingebolt or shaft on which the protecting-tray is mounted. Figs. 11 and 12'represent, respectively, a side elevation and an end view of thesegmental worm-gear fast on the shaft that carries the protectingtray.Fig. 13 represents a side elevation of the protecting-tray as detachedfrom the gun; and Fig. 13 represents a rear view of the tray in theelevated position, or that position in which it projects into thescrew-boxof the gun. Fig. 14 represents a section through that portionof the carrier-ring shown in the device for locking the breech-block inthe carrier-ring or the carrier-ringin the gun, as the case may be, thesection being along the line 14 14 of Fig. 15, but the breech-block notbeing shown. Fig. 15 representsasection across the carrier-ring alongthe line l5 l5 of Fig. 14 and shows the adjacent parts of thebreechblock and gun-body, the breech-block being just about to enter orrecede from the screwbox. Fig. 16 represents a section through thehousing of the sliding wedge-block for closing the primer-chamber alongthe line 16 16 of Fig. 17, the sliding block being then removed, but theextractor for the primer-case beingin position. Fig. 17 represents asection through the sliding wedge-block for closing the primerchamberand the housing therefor along the line 19 2 of Fig. 16 and along theline 2 2 of Fig. 1, the primer-case being shown in plan. Fig. 18represents a section along the line 18 19 of Fig. 16, the slidingwedge-block for closing the primer-chamber being in the lowered openposition and the primer-case being ejected. Fig. 19 represents a similarview of that shown in Fig. 18 except that the sliding wedgeblock is inthe closed position and the primer and other parts are in positionforfiring. Fig. 20 represents a rear elevation of the slidingWedge-block for closing the primer-chamber. Fig. 21- represents aperspective view of the extractor for removing the empty primercartridge-case. Fig. 22 represents an end view of the lowered portion ofthe breech of the gun fitted with a protecting-tray that swings into thescrew-box from the side of the gun. Fig. 23 represents a section alongthe line 23 23 of Fig. 22 and looking down, and Fig. 24 represents amodification in which the primer isfired by electricity.

A represents the gunbody, provided with the interrupted screw-box A, cutaway to the rear and in the form of a truncated cone A to receive thecarrier-ring and provided with the recess s A for the lugs O of thecarrierr-ing and with the recess A to receive the segmental worm forrotating the breech-block in the carrier-ring and for swinging the saidring outward. The lower portion of the gunbody is also recessed, as at Aand A for the protecting-tray. Furthermore, the conical chamber A isprovided with a recess a and, preferably, with an opening a leadingtherefrom for the stop-bolt.

15 represents the breech-block, which is provided with the obturator Band stem B perforated with the vent b". This breech-block is providedwith screw-threads b, engaging with those of the screw-box A, also withthe annular rib on the rear face to engage in the carrier-ring in rearofthe blanks thereon and wit-h the worm-teeth b.

0 represents the carrier-ring, which is provided with twolaterally-projecting lugs C on which the said carrier-ring is pivoted,as

by means of the hinge bolt or shaft D, journaled in the side of thebreech. This carrier- 'ring 0 is provided with the guide-lugs c and c,

which project into the blanks between the teeth I) on the breech-block.This carrierring is loosely mounted on the shaft D, with the lugs Cembracing the segmental wormgear D fast on the said shaft. The shaftalso carries the miter-gear D and the interrupted worm-gearD having theworm-teeth d and the interrupted annular rib C1 The shaft D is rotatedby means of the miter-gear D on the shaft D and the hand-crank F, hav- 4ing the handle F, though any other means for rotating the same shaft Dmay be adopted, if desired.

The segmental worm-gear D is provided with worm-teeth (l engaging theteeth I) of the breech-block to rotate the latter, and with teeth '61,which engage the teeth I) on the breech block after the worm -teeth havepassed out of engagement with each other. In this manner thebreech-block is first turned about its axis by means of the worm-teeth band d and then run the requisitedistance to the rear in the carrier-ringby means of the teeth b and 01. As soon as the teeth d have moved thebreech-block sufficiently to the rear in the carrier-ring the furthermotion of the breech block rearward relative to the carrier-ring isarrested and the carrier-ring itself swings outward about the shaft D,the breech-block at that time being fixed in the carrier-ring, as willbe hereinafter more fully described.

The lower end of the shaft D is provided with the segmental worm-gear Dwhose worm-teeth 61 mesh with the worm-teeth h on the segmentalworm-gear H, keyed fast on the shaft H, journaled across the lower portion of the gun. This worm-gear H is also provided with a longitudinalgroove h to receive the interrupted annular rib 61 and thus to preventthe wheel H from revolving except when the worm-teeth d engage with theWorm-teeth h. This shaft H carries, rigidly secured thereto, aprotecting-tray K, secured on the arm K of the frame K having therearwardly-projecting arms K and the rounded bosses K. The tray K isprovided with a stiffening-rib 7a.

The segmental worm-gear D is so arranged relative to the worm-gear Hthat the tray K is in the vertical position (shown in Fig. 1) and clearof the carrier-ring when the latter is at or near the closed position;but as the rotation of the shaft D causes the carrier-ring to swingoutward the rib d passes out of the groove h and the worm-teeth d engagethe Wormteeth It, swinging the protecting-tray upward about the shaft Huntil the said tray projects into the screw-box A and has its rib itresting in one of the blanks between the screwthreads in the screw-box,as shown in Fig. 4- In this position the rounded bottom of theprotecting-tray K receives the shell and holds the same in line with thepowder-chamber and clear of the screw-threads of the gun. In this mannerthe screw-threads are protected from injury from the shell and thelatter may be shoved in place from the rear with much greater facility.

In the modification shown in Figs. 22 and .3 the shaft H extends clearacross the gun and is provided with a worm-gear H meshing with theworm-gear M on the vertical shaft M, to which the swinging tray K isrigidly attached, 'as by means of the arm K This tray is preferablyprovided with a rib is beneath the same and curved, as at 10 so as toswing freely'into the blanks between the screw-threads of the gun. Thisarm K is provided with a rearwardly-projecting boss K secured to-theshaft .M, and mounted between the lugs A attached to the gun in anyconvenient way.

The arrangement of the segmental wormgears D and H is similar to thatalready described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 and 9 to 12, so thatthe shaft M is so rotated that the protecting-tray K will not swingtoward the screw-box until the carrier-ring has been swung outward andwill leave the screw-box before the carrier-ring has been swung inwardfar enough to cause either the breechblock or the carrier-ring to strikethe protecting-tray or any part thereof. Thus it will be seen that Iprovide a protecting-tray which is automatically swung inward into thescrewboX when the carrier-ring is opened and is automatically swungoutward from the screwbox as the carrier-ring is swung to the closedposition.

In order to afiord a positively-acting lock for holding the breech-blockin the carrierring or for holding the carrier-ring locked in the gun, asthe case may be, I provide the locking-bolt p pivotally connected bymeans of the arm 19 and pin 19 to the lever P, which lever is pivoted inthe carrier-ring, as at 1), (see Fig. 14,) and is provided with arounded arm p normally pressed outward by the spring P. Thus the springnormally presses the arm 19 outward and the locking-bolt P inward, asshown in Figs. 6 and 14:.

In order to remove or replace the lever P, the locking-bolt, and thespring P at one operation, the spring P is held in place by thescrew-head 19' (see Fig. lat) and the lockingbolt is connected to thelever by means of the pin but this pin 19 and also the screwhead p maybe omitted, if desired.

The conical recess A in rear of the screw box is provided with therecess a, preferably opening outward,'as at a, that it may beconveniently cleaned out or oil may be dropped in, as may be desired,which recess has an outer shoulder a, adapted to engage the sloping top19 of the locking-bolt P The breechblock is also provided with a recessb adapted to engage the heel of the locking-bolt P which recess b isprovided with the vertical shoulder 5 in front of the sloping face I),terminating in a longitudinal groove 19 (See Fig. 15.) The parts beingin the open position, (shown in Figs. 14 and 15,) if the carrier-ringisswung inward the rounded arm 11 of the lever can be swung clear of thegun.

In opening the breech the first motion will be to unlock thebreech-block from engagement with the screw-threads in the screw-box andthen to run the latter to the rear. the plug is drawn to the rear thebolt P is forced down the inclined surface (7 by the action of thespring P pressing upward on the opposite end of the-lever P. When therecess comes under the bolt P the upper edge of the bolt is just clearof the rear edge a of the recess a, permitting the carrier-ring to moveto the rear. As the carrier-ring moves to the rear the rounded surface19 on the lever P is forced up by the spring and the bolt P is forceddown into the recess 17 In case the spring fails to act the inclinedsurface P on top of the bolt P insures the bolt entering the recess 19before the ring can be swung back, and thus the breech-plug will befirmly locked in the carrier-ring before the latter Thus it will be seenthat the breech-block cannot be moved forward in the carrier-ring untilthe carrierring has been locked in the gun, nor can the carrier-ring beunlocked from the gun until the breech-block has been unlocked from thegun and moved to its rearward positionin the carrier-ring.

The firing mechanism used with the hereindescribed invention may beeither mechanical, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 17, and 19, or electrical, asshown in Fig. 24. In either form of firing mechanism the stem B of theobturator is provided with a vent b and has attached to the stem thereofthe elbow-housing Q, provided'with the vent qflopeniug into the vent bAt the other end of this vent g I provide a primer-chamberq for thecartridge-case Z of the primer, which chamber q is closed by.

means of the sliding wedge-block R, perforated to receive thefiring-pin. This sliding wedge-block R is provided with ribs 0, slidingin grooves Q preferably set at a slight angle with the axis of the ventg so that the block B may bear against the rear face of theprimer-chamber when the'latter is closed.

The rear end of the opening in which the firing-pin is mounted is closedby a perforated nut R and the firing-pin is normally pressed rearwardout of engagement with the primercap by meansof the spring S. In theform of device'shown in Figs. 17 and 18 the firingpin S projects througha cylindrical opening r in the block R, while in the form of deviceshown in Fig. 24 the-firing-pin S is insulated from the block R. Witheither form of de- IIO vice the block R is provided with a stud R, whichprojects. beyond the side of the. housingQand when the block is in theclosed position. engagesin the recess Q? in the side of the housing Q.(Shown in Fig. 16.) This stud R engages in the arc-shaped groove 0 inthe carrier-ring O. The center of this arcshaped groove 0 is the sameasthe center of the breech-block, and when the carrier-ring is swung tothe closed position this center lies in the continuation of the axis ofthe bore. The angle subtended by this areshaped groove 0 is somewhatless than the angleof rotation of the breech-block, so that when. thebreech-block is rotated to the unlocked, position the housing Q, movingin the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, thisstud R willstrike the upper end of the grooved and will force the block R downward,openingthe rear of the primer-chamber, while-in the reverse operation ofclosingtheblockthe housing Q will swing down.- ward until the stud Rstrikes the lower end of thegroove 0 when the breech-block isforced-upward into the position for closing the rear of thepowderchamber, at which time the stud R will. engage in the recess Q ofthehousing-Q.,

The top of the breech-block is preferably recessed, as at r, to admitthe convenient insection, of theprimercartridge-case from therear,,and,tl1e frontface of theblock is sloped, as atr to wedge theprimer-case into the primer-chamber as the block rides up into theclosed position.

In order to provide for the extraction of the empty cartridge-case ofthe primer after the latter has: been fired, the extractor T is pivoted,as at t in the housing Q, which extractor has the arm 15, with nibs tengaging therim of the cartridge-case. On the back of: these arms arethe lugs t which engage the double inclined lugs r on the block R. It;will. be seen that as the block is moved to the lower or open position,as shown in. Fig. 18 the lower edges of these lugs r will engage thelugs 25", rotating the extractor out-- ward and ejecting the emptycartridge-case, while in returning to the closed position the upperincline of these lugs 1' will press against the back of the arms t andwill bring the extractor to the closed. position with the nibsinfront ofthe rim of the cartridge-case, as shown in Fig. 17.

In the mechanically-operated firing mechanism. shown in Fig. 2, Urepresentsa frame or casing engaging in the dovetail recess a of thegun-body (see Fig. 4) and provided with a plunger V, normally pressedforward by the spring V. mally-engaging the catch w of the pawl W, theopposite arm 10 of which pawl at that timerides up over the lug u of thehousing. This pawl. WV is pivoted on one arm of the bell-crank lever X,to the other arm of which is-attached the lanyard Y. This. bell-cranklever X, is pivoted, as at as, and is acted upon This plunger has anotch 12, nor-.

by a spring w, whose tension is in the oppo? site direction to thatexerted by the lanyard Y, tending to bring back the pawl W in positionto engage the notch vwhenev-er the tension. on the lanyard, as in firingthe gun, has been relieved.

Then the lanyard. Y is. pulled upon, the pawl W is moved backward,drawing with it the bolt V until the curved arm 10 of the pawl W ridesup on the stud u of the housing U, at which time the catch w is wedgedout of engagement with the notch '0 and the plunger V is released, beingdriven. forward by the spring V and striking the'firing-pin S, when itfires the primer, which transmits the flame through the vents and btothe powder charge in the gun- In the electric firing mechanism shown;in Fig. 24 the plunger V is normally pressed inward by means. of thespringV and makes cont-act with the insulated firing-pin S The plungeris insulated, as shown, and is provided with a milled headed nut b whichscrews over the end of theplunger and serves to hold in place the end ofthe wire V leading from a battery or other source of electricity. Theother terminal of, the batteryis connected with any part of the gun orgunmount, as. is ordinarily done when. firing by electricity. In. eitherform, of the firing mechanism it will be seen that the firing-pin. andthe plunger are not in the operative position until the breech-block isclosed and locked and until the primer-chamber is also It will beobvious that either form of firing mechanism may be used with the breechopening and closing'apparatus and also with the mechanism for operatingthe tray. It will also be obvious that various modifications in theherein-described apparatus-might be made by any oneskilled in theart-without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to securebyLetters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a breech mechanism of theslottedscrew system, the combination witha breechplug and a hinged carrier for the same, of a shaft for saidcarrier, apinion secured to said shaft for operating the breech-blockand car rier, a crank and cogged gearing connecting said crank and saidshaft for operating the mechanism by a continuous motion of the crank, aswinging protectin -tray, and means operated by. the rotation of saidshaft for swingingsaid tray into and out of the screwbox, substantiallyas described.

2. In a breech mechanism of the slottedscrew system, the combinationwith a breechplug and a hinged carrier for thesame, of a shaft for saidcarrier, a pinion secured to said shaft for operating the breech-blockand car.- rier, a frame on the side of the gun, ahandcrank journaled insaid frame, and cogged gearing connecting said hand-crank and said shaftor hinged bolt, a swinging protectingtray, and means operated by therotation of said shaft for swinging said tray into and out wheel on thecounter-shaft for operatingthe.

mechanism by a continuous motion of the crank, aswingingprotecting-tray, and means operated by the rotation of said shaft forswinging said tray into and out of the screwbox, substantially asdescribed.

at. In a breech mechanism of the slottedscrew system, the combinationwith a breechplug and a hinged carrier for the same, of a shaft for saidcarrier, a pinion secured to said shaft for operating the breech-blockand carrier, a crank, and cogged gearing connecting said crank and saidshaft for operating the rier, a frame on the side of the gun, a handmechanism by a continuous motion of the crank, a protecting-tray pivotedto the gun, and. means operated-by the rotation of the shaft forautomatically swinging said tray into and out of the screw-box,substantially as described.

5. In a breech mechanism of the'slottedscrew system, the combinationWith a breechplug and a hinged carrier for the same, of a shaft for saidcarrier, a pinion secured to said shaft for operating the breech-blockand car crank journaled in said frame, and cogged gearing connectingsaid hand-crank and said shaft, a swinging protecting-tray pivoted to.the gun, and means operated by the rotation of the shaft forautomatically swinging said tray into and out of the screw-box,substantially as described.

6. In a breech mechanism of the slotted screw system, the combinationwith a breechplug and a hinged carrier for the same, of a shaft for saidcarrier, a pinion secured to said shaft for operating the breech-blockand carrier, a frame on the side of the gun, a counter-shaftjournaled-in said frame at right angles-to the axis of the gun, ahand-crank at one end of said counter-shaft, and a gearwheel at theother a second gear-wheel fast on the first shaft and meshing with thegearwheel on the counter-shaft for operating the mechanism by acontinuous motion of the crank, a swinging protecting-tray pivoted tothe gun, and means operated by the rotation of the first shaft forautomatically swinging said tray into and out of the scrcw-box,substantially as described.

7. In a breech mechanism of the slottcdscrew system, the combinationwith a breechplug and a hinged carrier for the same, of a shaft for saidcarrier, a pinion secured to said shaft for operating the breech-blockand carrier, a crank, and cogged gearing connecting said crank and saidshaft for operating the mechanism by a continuous motion of the crank, aswinging protecting-tray, a transverse sha-ftfor operating saidprotecting-tray, and worm-gearing automatically operated by the rotationof the firstshaft for turning said transverse. shaft, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with mechanism for openingand closing the breech, of a swinging protecting-tray pivotedto the gun,and means automatically operated by the breech mechanism for swingingsaid tray into the screw-box When the breech is opened, and for swingingsaid tray out of the screw-box before .the breech is closed,substantially as described.

9. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with mechanism for openingand closing the breech, of a swinging protecting-tray pivoted to thegun, and interrupted worm-gearing automatically operated by the breechmechanism for swinging said tray into the screw box during the latterpart of the operation of opening the breech, and for swinging said trayout of the screw-box during the early part of the operation of closingthe breech, substantially as described.

10. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with a breech-block, ahinged carrier, a hinge-bolt, and means for turning said hinge bolt, andmeans operated by the rotation of the hinge-bolt for opening and closingthe breech, a swinging protecting-tray pivoted to thegun, and meansautomatically operated by the rotation of the hinge-bolt for swingingsaid tray into and out ofthe breech of the gun, substantially asdescribed.

11. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with a breech-block, ahinged carrier, a hinge-bolt, and means for turning said hingebolt, andmeans operated by the rotation of the hinge-bolt for opening and closingthe breech, of a swinging protecting-traypivoted to the gun, andinterrupted worm-gearing operated by the rotation of the hinge-bolt forautomaticallyswinging said tray into and out of the screw-box,substantially as described.

12. In a breech-loading gun, the combination with a breech-block, ahinged carrier, a hinge-bolt, and means for turning said hingebolt, andmeans operated by the rotation of the hinge-bolt for opening and closingthe breech, a swinging protectingtray, a transverse shaft for operatingsaid protecting-tray, and interrupted worm-gearingautomatically operatedby the rotation of the hinge-bolt for turning said. transverse shaft,substantially as described.

13. In a breech mechanism, the combination of a hinge-bolt, a shaft, anoscillating protecting-tray mounted on said shaft and automaticallyoperated by interrupted gearing on said hinge-bolt and shaft,substantially as described.

14. In a breech-loading gun of the slottedscrew system, the combinationwith a breechblock provided with screw-th reads thereon for locking thesame in the gun,and worm-teeth in rear of said screW-threadsofa pinionprovided with teeth to engage in said worm-teeth, and other teeth toengage in said screw-threads, mechanism for operating said pinion, aswinging protecting-tray pivoted to the gun, and means automaticallyoperated by said mechanism for'swinging said tray into the screwboX asthe breech is opened and for removing the said tray before the breech isclosed, substantially as described.

15. Ina breech-loading gun, provided with a chamber in rear of thescrew-box, and a small recess extending outward from said chamber, thecombination of a pivoted carrier-ring adapted to swing into saidchamber,

'a breech-block mounted in said carrier-ring and provided With aninclined groove therein registering with the recess in the gun when thebreech-block is inserted in the gun, a le'- ver pivoted in saidcarrier-ring and having an arm normally projecting therefrom, and alocking-bolt operated by said lever and by said inclined recess to lockthe carrier-ring in the gun when the breech is closed, with means. forremoving the locking-bolt from engagement with the gun when the breechis opened, substantially as described.

l6. In a breech-loading gun, provided with a conical chamber in rear ofthe screw-box, and a small recess extending outward from said chamber,the combination of a pivoted carrier-ring adapted to swing into saidchamber, a breech-block mounted in said carrierring and provided with aninclined groove therein registering with the recess in the gun when thebreech-block is inserted in the gun,

a lever pivoted in said carrier-rim g and having an arm normallyprojecting therefrom, a locking-bolt attached to said lever and pro.-vided with a beveled head engaging the Wall of said conical chamber andhaving its heel engaging in the inclined recess in the breechblock,substantially as described.

17. In a breech-loading gun, provided with a conical chamber in rear ofthe screw-box, and-a small recess extending outward from said chamber,the combination of a pivoted carrier-ring adapted to swing into saidchambet, a breech-block mounted in said carriertherein registering withthe recess in the gun When the breech-block is inserted in the gun, alever pivoted in said carrier-ring and having an arm normally projectingtherefrom, a locking-bolt attached to said lever and provided with abeveled head engaging the wall of said conical chamber and having itsheel engaging in the inclined recess in thebreechblock, and a springnormally pressing said arm. of said lever outward, substantially asdescribed.

18. In a breech-loading gun of the slottedscrew system, the combinationwith a breechplug provided with a vent a housing fast to said plug and aprimer-chamber mounted on said housing, and opening into said vent, of asliding block automatically operated by the revolution of thebreech-plug for opening and closing said primer-chamber, and aself-cocking firing device secured to the breech of the gun andregistering with said primer-chamher when the breech is. closed,substantially as described.

19. In a breech-loading gun of the slottedscrew system, the combinationwith a breechplug provided with a vent a housing fast to said plug and aprimer-chamber mounted in said housing, and opening into said vent, of asliding block automatically operated by the revolution of thebreech-plug for opening and closing said primer-chamber, an extractorfor the empty primer-case operated by the motion of the slidingwedge-block, and self-cocking firing device secured to the breech of thegun and registering with said primer-chamber when the breech is closed,substantially as described. v

20. In a breech-loading gun, of the slottedscrew system, the combinationof a hinged carrier provided with an arc-shaped groove thereinsubtending a less angle than the angle of revolution of the breech-plug,a breech-plug mounted in said carrier, and provided with alaterally-extending housing, with a primerchamber in said housing and avent connecting said primer-cham her with the bore of the gun, and asliding wedge-block mounted in said housing and provided with a lugprojecting into said groove in the carrier, substantially as described.

21. In a breech-loading gun of the slottedscrew system, the combinationof a hinged carrier provided with an arc-shaped groove thereinsubtending a less angle than the angle of revolution of the breech-plug,a breech-plug mounted in said carrier, and provided with alaterally-extending housing, with a primerchamber in said housing and avent connecting said primer-chamber with the bore of the gun, and asliding Wedge-block mounted in said housing and provided with alug'projects in g into said groove in the carrier, with an extractor forthe empty primer-case also mounted in said housing and operated by themotion of the sliding wedge-block, substantially I r fas described. ringand provided with an inclined groove 22. In a breech-loading gun of theslottedscrew system, the combination of a hinged carrier provided withan arc-shaped groove therein subtending a less angle than the angle ofrevolution of the breech-plug, said breech plug mounted in said carrier,and provided .with a laterally-extending housing, with a 1primer-chamber in said housing and a vent connecting said primer-chamberwith the bore l of the gun, and a sliding wedge-block mounted i in saidhousing and provided with a lug pro- .jecting into said groove in thecarrier, with an extractor for the empty primer-case also mounted insaid housing and operated by the motion of the sliding wedge-block, anda selfcocking firing device secured to the breech of the gun,substantially as described.

23. In a breech-loading gun of the slottedsorew system, the combinationof a hinged carrier provided with an arc-shaped groove thereinsubtending a less angle than the angle of revolution of the breech-plug,the breech-plug mounted in said carrier and provided with alaterally-extending housing, with a primerohamber in said housing, and avent connecting said primer-chamber with the bore of the gun, and asliding wedge-block mounted in said housing and provided with a lugprojecting into said groove in the carrier, with means for firing saidprimer operative only when the breech-plug is closed and locked in thegun and the sliding wedge-block has closed the primer-chamber,substantially as described.

24. In a breech-loading gun of the slottedscrew system, a firingmechanism composed of two separable parts, one part secured to thebreech of the gun, and the'other part secured to the breech-plug andprovided with a primer chamber, the two parts registering only when thebreech-plug is closed and locked in the gun and the primer-chamber isclosed,'substantially as described.

25. In a breech-loading gun of the slottedscrew system, a firingmechanism composed of two separable parts, one part secured to thebreech of the gun, and the other part secured A

